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# Chief Scientific Officer (Food Tech)


Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) – Food Tech
JRG Partners is seeking an visionary and accomplished Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) for a groundbreaking Food Technology company based in the vibrant innovation hub of San Francisco, CA. This is a pivotal leadership role for an individual passionate about transforming the future of food through scientific discovery, technological advancement, and sustainable practices. The successful candidate will be instrumental in defining and executing the scientific vision, leading a world-class R&D team, and driving the development of innovative, scalable, and commercially viable food products and solutions that address critical global challenges.
Our client is at the forefront of the food tech revolution, leveraging advanced biotechnology, material science, and culinary arts to create novel ingredients, alternative proteins, and sustainable food systems. As CSO, you will be the principal scientific authority, guiding all research and development efforts from concept to commercialization. You will foster a culture of scientific excellence, intellectual curiosity, and rigorous experimentation, ensuring the company remains a leader in its field. This role offers an unparalleled opportunity to make a significant impact on global health, environmental sustainability, and consumer well-being by bringing revolutionary food products to market.
The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of food science, biochemistry, microbiology, and process engineering, coupled with a proven track record of translating scientific breakthroughs into tangible products. You will be a strategic thinker, an inspiring leader, and an effective communicator, capable of articulating complex scientific concepts to diverse audiences, including investors, partners, and regulatory bodies. If you are driven by the challenge of disrupting traditional food industries and creating a healthier, more sustainable planet, we invite you to explore this extraordinary opportunity.
Role Overview
The Chief Scientific Officer will serve as the strategic leader for all scientific and technological innovation within the company. This executive-level position demands a unique blend of deep scientific expertise, strategic foresight, and exceptional leadership capabilities. The CSO will be responsible for setting the overarching scientific agenda, identifying emerging technologies and research areas, and building a robust pipeline of innovative products. You will oversee all aspects of research and development, from basic scientific inquiry to applied product development, ensuring alignment with business objectives and market needs.
Reporting directly to the CEO, the CSO will be a key member of the executive leadership team, contributing to the overall strategic direction and growth of the company. You will be tasked with attracting, developing, and retaining top-tier scientific talent, fostering a collaborative and high-performance research environment. Furthermore, the CSO will be the primary scientific voice of the company, engaging with external stakeholders, scientific communities, and regulatory agencies to advance the company’s mission and reputation. This role is not merely about managing research; it’s about pioneering the next generation of food solutions and shaping the future of sustainable food systems globally.
You will be empowered to explore novel scientific avenues, challenge conventional thinking, and push the boundaries of what is possible in food technology. This includes overseeing the development of intellectual property, ensuring scientific rigor in all experiments, and guiding the transition of successful research projects into scalable production. The role demands an individual who can balance long-term scientific vision with the immediate demands of product development and commercialization, all while maintaining the highest standards of scientific integrity and ethical practice.
Key Responsibilities

Strategic Scientific Leadership: Define and articulate the company’s scientific vision and strategy, aligning it with overall business goals. Identify and evaluate new scientific opportunities, technologies, and research areas that have the potential to disrupt the food industry.
Research & Development Oversight: Lead and manage all R&D activities, from fundamental research to applied product development and process optimization. Ensure the scientific rigor, reproducibility, and ethical conduct of all research projects.
Product Innovation & Pipeline Management: Drive the discovery and development of novel ingredients, alternative proteins, and sustainable food products. Build and manage a robust product pipeline, ensuring timely progression through various development stages.
Team Leadership & Development: Recruit, mentor, and lead a high-performing team of scientists, researchers, and engineers. Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, continuous learning, and scientific excellence within the R&D department.
Intellectual Property Management: Oversee the identification, protection, and strategic utilization of the company’s intellectual property assets, including patents, trade secrets, and proprietary technologies.
Regulatory & Compliance: Ensure all scientific research and product development activities comply with relevant food safety regulations, industry standards, and ethical guidelines across various jurisdictions. Liaise with regulatory bodies as needed.
External Collaboration & Partnerships: Establish and nurture strategic scientific partnerships with academic institutions, research organizations, and industry collaborators to leverage external expertise and accelerate innovation.
Budget Management: Develop and manage the R&D budget, ensuring efficient allocation of resources and maximizing return on scientific investment.
Scientific Communication & Advocacy: Serve as the primary scientific spokesperson for the company, effectively communicating scientific breakthroughs, product benefits, and strategic vision to investors, media, partners, and the broader scientific community. Represent the company at conferences, industry events, and scientific forums.
Quality Assurance & Scale-up: Collaborate closely with engineering, operations, and quality assurance teams to ensure successful scale-up of products from laboratory to pilot plant to commercial production, maintaining product quality and consistency.
Risk Assessment & Mitigation: Identify potential scientific and technical risks in R&D projects and develop strategies for mitigation.

Requirements

Educational Background: Ph.D. in Food Science, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related scientific or engineering discipline from a top-tier institution.
Extensive Experience: Minimum of 10-15 years of progressive leadership experience in R&D within the food technology, biotechnology, or a related high-growth innovative sector. A significant portion of this experience must be in a senior scientific leadership role, ideally as a CSO, VP of R&D, or Head of Science.
Food Tech Expertise: Deep domain expertise in areas relevant to food technology, such as alternative proteins (plant-based, cultivated meat, precision fermentation), novel ingredient development, food processing, sensory science, and sustainable food systems.
Proven Leadership: Demonstrated ability to build, lead, and inspire diverse scientific teams, fostering an environment of innovation, accountability, and scientific rigor. Experience managing multi-disciplinary teams across different scientific disciplines.
Strategic Acumen: Strong strategic thinking skills with the ability to translate scientific vision into actionable research programs and product development roadmaps that align with business objectives.
Innovation Track Record: A verifiable history of successfully bringing innovative products or technologies from concept through to commercialization. Experience with intellectual property generation and management is highly desirable.
Regulatory Knowledge: Solid understanding of food safety regulations (e.g., FDA, EFSA) and experience navigating regulatory pathways for novel food products.
Communication & Interpersonal Skills: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex scientific information clearly and persuasively to both scientific and non-scientific audiences, including executive leadership, investors, and external partners.
Entrepreneurial Mindset: A proactive, results-oriented approach with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic startup environment. Comfortable with ambiguity and capable of making data-driven decisions under pressure.
Networking & Collaboration: Established network within the scientific community, particularly in food science, biotechnology, or related fields. Demonstrated ability to forge and maintain strategic external partnerships.
Location: Ability to work on-site in San Francisco, CA, with occasional travel as required for conferences, partnerships, and facility visits.

Benefits & Perks
Our client offers a highly competitive compensation package commensurate with experience, including a significant equity stake in a rapidly growing, well-funded company. Beyond financial rewards, you will be part of a mission-driven organization dedicated to making a positive global impact.

Competitive Salary & Equity: Attractive base salary complemented by substantial equity options, offering significant upside potential.
Comprehensive Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision insurance plans for you and your family.
Generous Paid Time Off: Flexible vacation policy and paid holidays to ensure work-life balance.
Professional Development: Opportunities for continuous learning, attendance at industry conferences, and access to cutting-edge research and technologies.
Innovative Work Environment: Work in a dynamic, collaborative, and intellectually stimulating environment with a team of passionate innovators.
Impactful Work: The chance to directly contribute to solving some of the world’s most pressing challenges in food security, sustainability, and public health.
State-of-the-Art Facilities: Access to advanced laboratories and pilot plant facilities to support groundbreaking research.
Relocation Assistance: For exceptional candidates moving to the San Francisco Bay Area.

How to Apply
If you are an exceptional scientific leader ready to make a profound impact on the future of food, we invite you to apply for this transformative Chief Scientific Officer role. JRG Partners is exclusively managing this search on behalf of our client. To express your interest and submit your qualifications, please prepare a detailed resume and a cover letter outlining your relevant experience, scientific vision, and why you are the ideal candidate for this position. Please highlight your specific achievements in leading R&D teams and bringing innovative food tech products to market.
Please submit your application through our dedicated portal. For further inquiries or to learn more about our executive search process, please visit our Executive Search Practice Area page. We look forward to reviewing your application and exploring how your expertise can contribute to our client’s success in shaping the future of food.